Champions in 2003 and finalists in 2007, England head to the World Cup looking to rediscover their cutting edge

A rampaging enigma. The strength of the team is probably somewhere in between
the outfit that Martin Johnson would like them to be and the dismal bunch
derided by a growing number of critics.

Their pack is as meaty as ever, though conceivably not as good. But, unless
Jonny Wilkinson kicks an enormous amount of goals, it is incredibly
difficult to imagine that England can score enough points to win matches
from the quarter-final onwards.

One rather alarming aspect of the pre-tournament period, apart from some poor
communal displays, was the absence of Ben Youngs and Chris Ashton, two
cutting-edge players. However, even that pair have declined in form, leaving
the fortunes of the 2007 runners-up very much in a New Zealand melting
point.

Where are the leaders? Skipper Lewis Moody sets a magnificent example but for
him to be appointed while struggling with the latest injury is optimistic in